Israeli Forces Complete Encirclement Of Gaza City

The Israeli forces announced on Thursday that its forces had successfully encircled Gaza City after several days of extensive ground operations in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Daniel Hagari, the military spokesperson, confirmed the completion of the encirclement, marking a critical point in the ongoing situation in the region. This development comes amid escalating tensions and violence in the area. The encirclement of Gaza City has raised concerns about the impact on the civilian population and the ability to provide humanitarian aid to those in need. The situation in the region remains fluid and continues to evolve, with global attention focused on efforts to de-escalate the conflict and seek a path to lasting peace. Stay tuned to CNN for the latest updates on this developing story and its implications for the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, embarked on his second crisis trip to the Middle East on Thursday with a clear agenda: to request "concrete measures" from Israel aimed at minimizing harm to Gaza civilians in the wake of the recent conflict sparked by a Hamas assault. While President Joe Biden has pledged unwavering support and increased military aid to Israel in response to retaliatory strikes in Gaza, he has also taken a more empathetic tone toward Palestinian suffering, a shift that has resonated with Arab nations. Secretary Blinken, before departing from Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, stated, "We will be talking about concrete steps that can and should be taken to minimize harm to men, women, and children in Gaza. This is something that the United States is committed to." Blinken is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit.